Suction cleaner



H. G. FAIRFAX sUCTIoN CLEANER May 9, 1933.

Filed Deo, l, 1950 @ucd/M l dag?.

-or detaching the dusting tool hose.

Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATE/s PATENT IOFFICE HOWARD G. FAIRFAX, OFNORTH CANTON, OHIO, IASSGrNOR TO THE HOOVER COMPANY, OF NORTH CANTON,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SUCTION Application led December The presentinvention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to newand novel improvements in permanently attached air directive valves in asuction cleaner which function to control the direction of air flowtherein. More specifically the invention relates to converter mechanismin a suction cleaner, normally equipped for on the floor cleaning, whichis permanently embodied therein and which is operable to convert thesuction cleaner for use in oftl the floor cleaning with a dusting toolby simply attaching the dusting tool hose to the cleaner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedsuction cleaner. It is a further object of the invention to provide, ina suction cleaner, new and novel improvements in air directive valves.Another object is the provision of permanently connected air directivevalves in a suction cleaner whose positions are determined by attachingStill another object is the provision, in a suction cleaner of thevertical axis type including an agitator, of an air directiveconstruction comprising a plurality of valves which are automaticallypositioned so that the cleaner is adapted for use with dusting toolsimmediately upon the attaching of the cleaner end of the dusting toolhose. Other and more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a suction cleaner in which the presentinvention is embodied, the cleaner being shown partly broken awa7 and insection.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a detail.

Fig. 4 shows a detail comprising the dusting tool receiving member andis taken upon the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing a modern type suction cleaner is disclosed comprising amain cas- CLEANER 1, 1930. Serial No. 499,139.

ing 1 which includes a suction nozzle 2, a fan chamber 3, and an exhaustoutlet 4 to which is attached a suitable dust bag 5. Supported upon themain casing 1 immediately above the fan chamber 3, and enclosing adriving motor which is not shown, is a motor casing 6. The lowerl end ofthe motor lshaft 7 projects down from the motor casing 6 through the fanchamber 3, where it carries the fan 8, and thru the inlet 9 of the fanchamber into the inlet chamber 10, formed by the housing 11, where itcarries the driving pulley 12. The housing 11 is a shell-like memberwhich is open at its top and forward end and so shaped as to becoextensive with the air passage 13 formed within the nozzle 2 by theside Walls 14, 14 and the bottom plate 15. At the fronty end of thenozzle 2 is a mouth defined by the front lip 16 and the rear 17 carriedby the bottom plate 15. Wit in the nozzle 2 and positioned above thenozzle mouth is a rotatable agitator 18 of a common and well known typewhich is driven by the belt 19 from the pulley 12.

The cleaner is movably supported upon the surface undergoing cleaning byfront supporting wheels 20, 20 and rear supporting wheels 21, 21. Nozzleheight-'adjusting means are provided, which are indicated generally bythe reference character 21a, by which the machine may be pivoted aboutthe front supporting wheels 20, 20 thru raising or lowering the rearsupporting wheels 21, 21 for the purpose of varying the height of thelips 16 and 17 above the supporting surface. There is also pivotallyattached to the main casing 1 a handle 22 by which the cleaner may bepropelled over the surface covering undergoing cleaning by the operator.The partsv of the cleaner which have been described are those whichcomprise the usual suction cleaner and in the present application no.invention v is claimed in the general arrangement. The present inventionlies in the improvements 95 embodied in the construction heretoforedescribed which will be hereinafter set forth and which are for thepurpose of readily changing the function of vthe machine from oneadapted for use upon surface coverings to one adapted for use with adusting tool hose for the cleaning of drapes andsimilar articlespositioned above the supporting surface.

In the cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention thehousing 11, which is semi-permanently attached to the under side of thefan chamber 3 by means of screws 23, 23 etc., is provided at one sidewith an inlet 24. Inlet 24 is defined by a tubular member 25 which isprovided at its outer end with a permanently attached securing orcoupling member 26, which includes a spring-pressed detent 27 whichJfunctions to retain, Within the receiving member 26, the cleaner-end ofthe dusting tool hose which is indicated by the reference character 28thru seating within the grooved inner end 29 thereof. In order that theinlet 24 in the housing 11 will be closed when the cleaner is being usedas a surface-cleaning unit, the dusting tool hose being then detached, avalve or gate member 30 is provided at the inlet which is p-ivotallymounted upon a vertical axis and which, when in the closed position liesclosely against the interior of the housing 11 and entirely seals theinlet 24 from the eye 9 of the fan chamber 3. A spring 31 of the coiltype is provided for the'purpose of holding the valve in its closedposition which is secured at its outer end within the tubular member 25,by means of a pin 32, and at its inner end to a projection lug 33 formedon the valve 30. The tension of the spring 31 is suficiently great that,in the absence of the positive force urging the valve inwardly, thevalve will be retained in its inlet-sealing position, or that in whichit lies against the side wall of the housing 11.

In order that the valve may lbe opened when the dusting tool hose isattached a plunger 34 is provided which is pivoted upon the lug 33 andslidably projects thru a suitable seat 35, carried by the tubular member25 within the tool-receiving member 26, where its outer end is adaptedto be contacted by the incoming edge of the`dusting'tool hose and ,to bepushed inwardly toward the inlet 24 as that member advances to its finalposition in which it extends substantially adjacent the outer end oftubular member 25.

To close the air passage 13 from the fan chamber when the cleaner isbeing used as a dusting tool unit a valve or gate member 36 is providedwhich is pivoted about a horizontal axis and is carried byforwardly-projecting lugs 37, 37 upon the housing 11. Valve 36 iscarried by the lugs 37, 37 within the rear end of the air passage 13and, in its passagesealing position, extends in a vertical plane makingcontact with both the top and bottom of the air passage 13 as well aswith the sides formed by the walls 14, 14. To accommodate the drivingbelt 19, which remains in position independently of the use of thecleaner, the

valve 36 is provided with a cutaway portion the outlines of which areindicated by 38. Thru this cutaway portion a small amount of air willleak when the air passage 13 is sealed from the fan chamber but thequantity of this air is relatively small and is insignificant.

Connecting the valve 36 to the valve 30, and so to the actuating plunger34, is a link 39 which is pivotally mounted at each end to one of thevalves; at the valve 36 thru being extended thru an aperture in theprojecting lug 40; and at the valve 30 thru being pivotally mounted atthe end of a projecting arm 41 rigidly carried by said valve.

In the ordinary use of the cleaner as a surface covering cleaningmachine, and with the dusting tools unattached, the spring 31 holds thevalve 30 adjacent the wall of the housing 11 and so in sealingrelationship with the inlet 24. With the valve 30 in this position thearm 41 carried thereby has forced the link member 39 forward and hasresulted in the suspension of the valve member 36 adjacent the upperwall of the air passage where it provides no obstruction thereto. Thisposition is clearly shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2. Havinglinished the cleaning of the surface covering if the operator desires toclean drapes or curtains, or to use the cleaning air rovided by themachine in the removal o dirt or dust at any point above the surfacecovering, he must resort to the attachment of dusting tools in orderthat the draft of cleaning air can be directed to thepoint of cleaningwith greater advantage than could be obtained by the handling of theentire cleaner. Under such a condition the cleanerend 28 of the dustingtool is inserted within the receiving member 26 on the cleaner. As thedusting tool advances within the member 26 it contacts the outer end ofthe plunger 34 and, as it continues to advance to its final seat againstthe outer end of the tubularmember 25, forces that plunger inwardlyresulting in the pivoting of the valve 30 about its vertical axisagainst the tension in the spring 31. Upon the pivoting of valve 30 thearm 41, which is rigidly carried thereby, is also pivoted to a positionwhich is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 in which position itsforward end is considerably in the rear of its original position. Thismovement of the arm 41 results in the drawing to the rear of the linkmember 39 and the consequent pivoting downwardly of the valve 36 fromits position adjacentthe top of the air passage, it being pulled thruthe lug 40 to which the link member 39 is attached. With the valve 30 inits open position, that indicated by dotted lines in Figure v2, the link39 has been pulled sufficiently to the rear by the arm 41 so that thevalve 36 has assumed a position in a vertical plane, as indicated bydotted lines in Figure l, and has completely sealed the air passage 13,and so the nozzle mouth defined by the lips 16 and 17, from the eye ofthe fan chamber with the exception of the small leakage which takesplace thru the cutaway portion 38 provided for the driving belt. Fromthe foregoing it is clear that the improvements embodying the presentinvention, when incorporated in a modern suction cleaner, do notmaterially complicate the construction thereof. The usual and ordinarygeneral cleaner construction can be used with no change in the agitatorposition or the position of the driving belt access being had to thelatter, according to the present invention, thru merely pivoting afinger plate 42 carried diately below the driving pulley 12 therebyuncovering the finger hole 43. This relationship is clearly shown inFigure 3. The present invention eliminates the use of any valves whichthe operator must maually actuate in addition to the attaching of the0dusting tool hose to the cleaner and comprises a simple construction bywhich the cleaner is automatically converted to a dusting tool unit bythe limple medium of attaching the dusting tool ose.

Having clearly described and disclosed the present invention, I claim 1.In a suction cleaner, a passageway, a second passageway,suction-creating means to draw air thru said passageways, a plurality ofvalves controlling the flow of air thru saidv passageways, meansinterconnecting said valves preventing independent relative movement,means operable upon the connection of a dusting tool hose to one of saidpassageways to operate said valves, and means to reverse therelationship of said valves upon the withdrawal of said dusting toolhose.

2. In a suction cleaner, a passageway, a second passageway,suction-creating means to draw air thru said passageways, a valvecontrolling the flow of air thru said first-mentioned passageway, asecond valve controlling the flow of air thru said second-mentionedpassageway, means operable upon the attachment of a dusting tool hose toopen said second valve, means to move said iirst-mentioned valve toclose its passageway upon the movement of said second-mentioned val've,and means to return said valves to initial posi- Jlion upon the removalof said dusting tool ose.

3. In a suction cleaner, a passageway, a second passageway,suction-creating means to draw air thru said passageways, a valvecontrolling the flow of air thru said first-mentioned passageway, asecond valve controlling the flow of air thru said second-mentionedpassageway, means operatively connecting said valves, means toautomatically position and retain said second-mentioned valve in sealedrelationship to its passageway and said first-mentioned valve inunsealed relationship 65 to its passageway, and additional means operonthe underside of the housing 11 immeable upon the attachment of adusting tool hose to reverse the relationships of said valves to theirpassageways.

4. In a suction cleaner, a passageway, a second passageway,suction-creating means to draw air thru said assageways, a valvecontrolling the iiow o? air thru said first-mentioned passageway, asecond valve controlling the iow of air thru said second-mentionedpassageway, means operatively connecting said valves, resilient means toretain said second-mentioned valve in sealed relationship to itspassageway and'said first-mentioned valve in unsealed relationship toits passageway, and means positioned in said second-mentioned passagewayoperable upon the attachment of a dusting tool hose thereto to move saidvalves to reverse their relationships to their passageways.

5. In a suction cleaner, a passageway, a second passageway,suction-creating means to draw air thru said passageways, a valvecontrolling the flow of air thru said first-mentioned passageway, asecond valve controAl ling the flow of air thru said second-mentionedpassageway, means pivotally connected between said valves to retain themin synchronous adjustment, means resistingly maintaining saidsecond-mentioned valve in closed position and said first-mentionedvalvein open position, and sliding means pivotally connected to saidsecond-mentioned valve and mounted in said second-mentioned passagewayto actuate said valves upon the insertion in said second-mentionedpassageway of a dusting tool hose.

6. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, a plurality ofpassageways leading to said suction-creating means, valves positionedadjacent said suction-creating means and controlling the flow of airthru said passageways, means pivotally mounting said valves about spacedaxes, means resistingly maintaining said valves in a normal positionwith one valve open and one valve closed, and means to automaticallyreverse the positions of said valves upon the attachment of a dustingtool hose to said cleaner.

7 In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, anozzle including amouth, an agitator in said nozzle, an air passageway leading from saidmouth to said suction-creating means, a secon'd passageway open to therst at the inlet to said suction-creating means, a driving shaft at thejunction of said air passageways, power transmitting means from saidshaft positioned in said first-mentioned passageway, a plurality ofvalves controlling the flow of air thru said passageways normallypositioned to open the passageway containing said power-transmittingmeans and to close said other passageway, and means to automaticallychange said valves from open to closed position and vice versa upon theattachment of a dusting tool hose to said cleaner, and means to returnsaid valves to normal position upon removal of said dusting tool hose.

8. In a suction cleaner, a fan casing, a fan in said fan casing, anozzle including an air passageway leading to `said fan casing, achamber at the junction of said fan casing and said air passageway, asecond passageway opening into said chamber, a gateemember pivoted abouta horizontal axis controlling the flow of air in said first-mentionedpassageway, a valve pivoted about a vertical axis controlling the flowof air in said secondmentioned passageway, means interconnecting saidvalves, and means operable upon the attachment or detachment of adusting tool hose to said cleaner to control the positions of saidvalves.

9. In a suction cleaner, a fan casing, a fan in said fan casing, anozzle including an air passageway leading to said fan casing, a chamberat the junction of said fan casing and said air passageway. a secondpassageway opening into said chamber, a gate-member pivoted about ahorizontal axis controlling the flow of air in said first-mentionedpassageway, a valve pivoted about a vertical axis controlling the How ofair in said secondmentioned passageway. Imeans interconnecting saidvalves and preventing independent relative movement therebetween, andmeans operable upon the attachment of a dusting tool hose to said secondpassageway to control the positions of said valves.

Signed at North Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohi0this26th day of November A.D. 1930.

HOWARD G. FAIRFAX.

